Artist’s statement
Makareta Jahnke
Ngā Puhi, Te Hikutu, Tainui, Ngāti Pōrou
“Wā ki Uta, Wā ki Tai”, we live in a time and space that is challenging our very existence, making us shift and change our ways of living on mother earth.
We continue to move forward, facing those challenges of climate change whist embracing all the elements and creating a safe passageway to ensure our survival.
Here, I weave a contemporary Meaning Cloak Meaning Net that reflects the strength and resilience of our people, weaving our past into the present.
The changing times and the shift of spaces we live in are indicated in the sizing of Meaning The holes in the Meaning Net and through the multiple shades of natural colours harvested from the environment we live in. Our world is forever changing.
Contact: makaretajahnke@gmail.com
Dive into the details
'I'm a real advocate in sharing weaving wonders in the hope to inspire others to weave. There are so many sculptural weaving design elements in Ipukahurangi that you really need to be there to capture her stance, feel her presence and embrace her splendour."
Essays
Explore in-depth writing about He Aa I Uta, He Aa I Tai: Weaving the Elements.
Whenu(a), Atua: Returning to Hine-te-iwaiwa through the maternal language of whatu
Dr Hinekura Smith (Te Rarawa, Nga Puhi)
1974 words
The language of weaving resonates deeply with the feminine and maternal body – as long as we use that language.
Ngaa ahuatanga marire mo te koiora - The Elementals essential for life
Ruth Port (Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri)
2950 words
A journey of re-connection and knowledge recovery as a group of weavers unravel long lost techniques used by Māori ancestral sail makers.
